Round conductor flat cable connector

ABSTRACT

A connector for a multi-conductor flat cable having a plurality of insulated round wire conductors wherein contact elements nested in the connector are respectively connected to selected conductors of the cable, each contact element having a circuit connecting terminal and a bifurcated part nested within the connector. The bifurcated part provides a pair of pointed prongs the inner edges act to slice through the conductor insulation to electrically engage opposite sides of the conductor wire when the prongs are clinched together. The bifurcated part is so twisted or skewed relatively to the longitudinal axis of the insulated conductor as to provide the prongs with sharp cutting edges which respectively bite into and make contact with opposite sides of the conductor wire at two points spaced lengthwise of the wire. Means are provided in the connector for clinching the contact prongs into engagement with the conductor wire, which means act also to effectively maintain this clinched engagement. The twist or skew of the bifurcated part of the contact places the clinched conductor under tension in the region of its connection to the contact, the force of which tension serves additionally to hold the contact securely clinched to the conductor.

United States Patent Worth [451 Dec. 31, 1974 1 ROUND CONDUCTOR FLATCABLE CONNECTOR [75] Inventor: Sidney V. Worth, Flourtown, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Continental-Wirt Electronics Corporation, Warminster, Pa.

[22] Filed: Aug. 10, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 387,485

[52] US. Cl. 339/99 R, 339/105, 339/176 MF,

339/17 F [51] Int. Cl H01r 9/06 [58] Field of Search 339/95-99,339/103l07, 176 MP, 17 F [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,360,444 10/1944 Pollock 339/97 L 3,380,013 4/1968 Krone et a1...339/97 P 3,434,093 3/1969 Wedekind..... 339/176 MF X 3,444,506 5/1969Wedekind 339/17 F X 3,550,066 12/1970 Cootes 339/ 107 3,761,869 9/1973Hardesty et al 339/49 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 67,298 2/1951Netherlands 339/97 R Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier AssistantExaminer-Robert A. Hafer Attorney, Agent, or FirmEdelson and Udell [57]ABSTRACT A connector for a multi-conductor flat cable having a pluralityof insulated round wire conductors wherein contact elements nested inthe connector are respectively connected to selected conductors of thecable, each contact element having a circuit connecting terminal and abifurcated part nested within the connector. The bifurcated partprovides a pair of pointed prongs the inner edges act to slice throughthe conductor insulation to electrically engage opposite sides of theconductor wire when the prongs are clinched together. The bifurcatedpart is so twisted or skewed relatively to the longitudinal axis of theinsulated conductor as to provide the prongs with sharp cutting edgeswhich respectively bite into and make contact with opposite sides of theconductor wire at two points spaced lengthwise of the wire. Means areprovided in the connector for clinching the contact prongs intoengagement with the conductor wire, which means act also to effectivelymaintain this clinched engagement. The twist or skew of the bifurcatedpart of the contact places the clinched conductor under tension in theregion of its connection to the contact, the force of which tensionserves additionally to hold the contact securely clinched to theconductor.

12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures SHEET 2 BF 2 PATENTED DEB3 1 I974 Thisinvention relates generally to electrical connectors and moreparticularly to connectors for multiple conductor insulated cables inthe form of flat tapes having a plurality of longitudinally extendingparallel insulated wire conductors secured together in a common plane byan enveloping film of plastic or other penetrable dielectric material.

Flat conductor tapes of the type described are a relatively recentdevelopment in the electrical conductor art and are commerciallyavailable in long lengths which can be cut into shorter lengths asrequired. The present invention provides means for making permanentelectrical connection between any or all of the several insulatedconductor wires of the cable and elec trical contacts having terminalsthrough which the conductors of the cable may be electrically connectedto the components of an electrical circuit.

It is important that the contacts applied to the several conductors ofthe cable tape be respectively in exact alinement with the conductors sothat they may be permanently secured thereto without any electricalinterengagement with adjoining ones of the closely related conductors ofthe cable tape. To this end, it is an important object of the presentinvention to provide a connector for the flat cable tape having aplurality of contacts which are supported in exact alinement with theclosely related round wire conductors of the cable tape, each innon-interfering relation with respect to a conductor or conductors otherthan that to which a given contact is individually secured.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a metalbifurcated contact which is adapted to pierce the cable tape and besecurely staked to the wire conductor in registry with the contact toprovide a mechanically secure and low resistance connection be tweeneach contact and its associated conductor of the cable.

Still another object ofthe present invention is to provide a connectorfor a cable tape of the character described which may be employed inconjunction with such tapes having a low center to center distancebetween the several conductors thereof.

A still further object is to provide a contact having a pair of sharplypointed laterally spaced tines or prongs which pierce the cable tape andslice through the insulation of the conductor to which it is connectedin such manner as to straddle and pinch therebetween the metal strand ofthe conductor, the conductor pinching prongs being so orientedrelatively to the longitudinal axis of the conductor and constrainedagainst separation as to impart thereto a tensile force which reacts tohold the contact prongs securely clinched to the metal stand of theconductor.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide aconnector having nested therein a plurality of the aforesaid contacts,one for each conductor to be connected in circuit with an electricalcomponent, which is adapted to provide a secure electrical connectionbetween each said contact and its associated conductor without thenecessity of using special assembly tools or jigs.

Other objects and advantages of the present inven tion will appear morefully hereinafter, it being understood that the invention consistssubstantially in the combination, construction, location and relativearrangement of parts, all as described in detail in the followingspecification, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as finallypointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the connector of the presentinvention attached to one transversely cut-end of a flat conductor cablehaving therein a plurality of parallel insulated round wire conductorscommonly enveloped in a sheath of dielectric material;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged transverse cross-sectional view of thecable-attached connector as taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view on a somewhat smaller scalethan that of FIG. 2 as taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cableattached connectoras taken along the line 44 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view as taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, greatly enlarged, of a contact element asconstructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing in perspective portions of the matingdielectric members of the connector between which the conductor cable isclamped;

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of one of said mating members astaken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view ofa modified form of the connector contactelement of the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings it will be observed thatthe connector of the present invention, designated generally by thereference numeral 10, is shown applied to a flat multi-conductor cable11 of the type which includes a plurality of longitudinally extendingparallel conductor wires 12 having insulation coverings 13 securedtogether in a common plane by an enveloping film of plastic, such aspolyester or other penetrable dielectric material. The connector 10which is clamped to the insulated multi-wire cable 11 crosswise thereofis in the form of an assembly which includes an elongated contactsupporting base plate 14 molded or otherwise formed of plastic or othersuitable insulating material which overlies one face of the flatinsulated cable and a mating cover plate 15, formed also of the samematerial, which overlies the opposite face of the cable. The base plate14 supports a plurality of contact elements 16 (such as are best shownin FIGS. 6 and 9) which are respectively mechanically and electricallyconnected to the several conductor wires 12 of the cable to which theconnector is clamped.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the contact elements 16 are typically formedas stampings from a relatively thin but suitably hard and durable sheetmetal, such as berylium or phosphor bronze. Preferably, the thickness ofthe stamped contact element is on the order of 0.0 l 2 inch but thisthickness may vary within a range of from 0.0l0 to 0.025 inch as may berequired for a particular guage of the conductor wire present in theinsulated cable. The contact elements 16 are generally forkshaped, eachhaving an elongated terminal stem 17 terminating in a widened bifurcatedpart 18 to provide a pair of laterally spaced sharply pointed prongs19--19 which are conjointly adapted to pierce the cable, cut

into the insulation of an individual conductor and pinch therebetweenthe wire of the conductor. The terminal stem 17 may be of any suitableshape as may be required to serve as a terminal for connection to aprinted circuit or other electrical circuit or component. Although theterminal 17 is shown elongated for projection externally of theconnector 10, it may be ofa form and shape designed to be housedinternally of the connector 10.

In the form of the contact element shown in FIG. 6, the widened part 18thereof is notched or lanced to respectively provide its opposite sideedges with tabs 20-20 which are bent out ofthe plane of said part 18 toserve as will appear hereinafter as a means for frictionally retainingthe contact elements in the base plate 14 of the connector during theoperation of fixedly anchoring the contact to the wire conductors of thecable clamped in the connector.

In the modified form of the contact element, as shown in FIG. 9, in lieuof the two side tabs 20-20 above described, its terminal stem 17a isprovided with a single lanced tab 20a for frictionally retaining thecontact element in the base plate 14 of the connector preliminary to itsbeing fixedly attached to a wire conductor of the cable.

In accordance with the present invention, the bifurcated part 18 of thecontact element 16 is angularly twisted some or so out of the plane ofthe contact terminal stem 17 as at 18 (see FIG. 6) or 18a (see FIG. 9)and preferably the pointed extremities 21-21 of its cable-piercingprongs 19-19 are respectively oppositely bent as shown for a purposewhich will appear hereinafter.

The contacts are initially inserted with their flat terminal stems 17extending foremost into a plurality of slits 22 respectively providedtherefor in the base plate 14 of the connector 10. As most clearlyappears in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7 these slits 22 are disposed in edgewisespaced relation along one or more rows thereof extending lengthwise ofthe connector base plate 14, i.e., transversely across the width of thecable clamped in the connector. Each of said slits 22 is provided withan upper section 26 which opens through the top of the base plate 14 andis of a dimension to more or less snugly receive therein the terminalstem 17 of one of said contact elements and with a lower section 24which opens through the bottom of the base plate and is of an enlargeddimension sufficient to accommodate therein the relatively twistedbifurcated part 18 of the contact element. The two sections 23 and 24 ofeach slit 22, which are in communication with each other, thusconjointly extend through the full depth of the base plate and provideeach slit 22 intermediate its opposite open ends with an internalshoulder 25 which is engageable by the relatively wide bifurcated part18 of the contact element to limit the extent to which its terminal stem17 projects externally of the slitted top surface of the connector baseplate 14.

The several contact elements are respectively frinctionally held in theslits 22 formed in the base plate 14 by the retaining tabs -20 (see FIG.6) or by the tab 20a (see FIG. 9). In the case of the contact element ofthe form shown in FIG. 6, its retentions tabs 20-20, when oppositelybent as shown respectively resiliently engage opposite walls of theenlarged lower section 24 of the slit into which said contact isinserted. If desired, these tabs 20-20 may be similarly bent in the samedirection so as to resiliently engage only one wall of the slit 22. Inthe case of the contact element shown in FIG. 9, its single retentiontab 20a resiliently engages one wall of the upper section 23 of thecontact-receiving slit.

With the contact elements fully inserted into their respective slitsformed in the base plate 14, it will be observed, as best shown in FIGS.4 and 7, that the end portions of the cable piercing prongs 19-19 of thecontact elements 16 all project freely beyond the cable engaging bottomsurface of the base plate 14, and thus are in position to slice throughthe insulation of the cable for mechanical and electrical engatementwith the wire conductors thereof in accordance with the procedure and inthe manner now to be described.

It will be noted that the bottom surface of the base plate 14 throughwhich the cable-piercing prongs 19-19 of the contact members project (assee FIG. 7) is centrally channeled or recessed, as at 26, to a depthless than the overall thickness of the cable so that when it is laid inthe recess its bottom portion projects externally of the recess while atthe same time the cable itself is held against sidewise shift by theshoulders 27 formed at opposite ends of the recess. The spacing of thecontact-receiving slits 22 within the recessed portion of the base plate14 is of course such that when the cable is laid into the recess 26, thecable-piercing prongs 19-19 of the several contact members nested in theslits 22 are respectively disposed in straddling relation to the severalconductors of the cable, i.e., with the prongs of each contact memberdisposed in a plane which is perpendicular to the flat plane of thecable and is so oriented as to form an angle of about l0 with thelongitudinal axis of the conductor to which the contact member is to beconnected (as see FIG. 5). i

As has been indicated, the connector may be provided with one or morerows ofin-line contact members depending upon number and spacing of theconductor wires contained in the flat insulated cable. FIG. 1illustrates a connector having two such rows of contact members, and inwhich the contact members of one row are staggered with respect to thoseof the other row, thereby permitting a given connector to have a highdensity of cable-connected contact members per unit length of theconnector.

Securement of the several insulated conductors of the flat cablerespectively to the contact members of the connector is preferablyeffected by use of the cover plate 15 in the following manner. Asappears most clearly in FIGS. 4 to 8, this cover plate 15 is provided inthe surface thereof which underlies the recess 26 of the base plate 14with a plurality of parallel arcuately shaped grooves 28 suitably spacedalong the length of the cover plate to respectively accomodate thereinthe several insulated conductors-of the cable 11 in such manner thatwhen the base and cover plates are secured together the cable iseffectively clamped therebetween. Also provided in the cover plate 15are a plurality of cavities 29, one for each of the grooves 28, whichextend crosswise of the said grooves for vertical registry respectivelywith the slits 22 of the base plate 14. Each of these cavities 29 is ofa rectangular outline and so dimensioned as to receive therein thefreely projecting portions of the cable-piercing prongs 19-19 of eachcontact member 16 nested in a slit 22 of the base plate 14. The oppositeend walls of each cavity 29 are inclined downwardly and inwardly withrespect to each other, as at 30-40, to provide in effect tapered camsurfaces which respectively engage the outer edges of and force togetherthe prongs 19-19 of the contact member projected into the cavity. Thiscamming action, which results when the grooved and cavitied cover plateis pressed or drawn tightly against the base plate 14, is facilitated byslightly rounding off or bevelling the outer edges of the pointedextremities of the prongs 19-19 to thereby provide for easierpenetration of the prongs into and through the cable insulation andbetter sliding movement of the contact prongs along the tapered cammingsurfaces of the cavities 29 upon insertion thereinto of the prongs.

For securing the cover plate 15 flatwise against the base plate 14 andso clamp the cable therebetween, the flats of the plate 14 which definetherebetween the cable accomodating recess 26 are respectively fittedwith nuts 31 for threadedly receiving clamping screws 32 extendingthrough suitable apertures provided therefor in the opposite ends of thecover plate. As the cover plate 15 is drawn tightly against the baseplate 14 by the screws 32 threaded into their nuts 31 with the flatcable 11 disposed therebetween, the pointed prongs 19-19 of the contactmembers 16 nested in the base plate as aforesaid simultaneously slicethrough opposite sides of the insulation of each of the cableconcluctors resting in the grooves 28 of the cover plate and cut intothe conductor wire itself.

The prongs 19-19 of each contact member 16 thus straddle and effectivelymechanically and electrically engage therebetween the conductor wire 12which is to be connected to each contact member. This mechanicallysecure and low resistance connection between each of the cable conductorand its contact member is effectively obtained not only by the cammingaction of the tapered end walls of the cavity 29 upon the prongs 19-19of the contact member for tightly clinching the latter to its associatedconducto but also by the twist of the prongs relatively to the axis ofthe conductor which provides the latter with relatively sharp cutting orslicing edges 33-33 (see FIG. 5) which respectively bite into theopposite side of conductor wire. In addition, due to the fact thatopposed edges of the prongs 19-19 which bite into opposite sides oftheconductor wire clinched therebetween are offset lengthwise of theconductor, as see FIG. 5, while at the same time the prongs 19-19 areheld restrained against separation from the conductor wire byinterengagement of their outer edges with the tapered end walls of thecavity into which they project, the prongs 19-19 act to impart suchtwist or kink in the conductor in the immediate region of the clinchedconnection as to place it under tension in that region, therebyestablishing a force which reacts as the conductor tends to straightenout to maintain the prongs 19-19 tightly closed against the conductorwire.

It will be noted that when the contact members 16 are respectivelystaked to the wire conductors of the flat cable as hereinbeforedescribed, they remain anchored to the cable despite any loosening oreven complete separation of the connector plates 14 and 15 from oneanother.

It will be apparent that other means and methods may be employed forrespectively connecting the several contact members to the severalconductors of the flat cable, such as by use of a press (not shown)which might include a bottom platen having grooves and cavitiescorresponding to those of the cover plate 14 for accommodating the cableconductors and the freely projecting prongs of the contact membersnested in the base plate 14 during the operation of clinching thecontacts to their conductors. Thereafter, it would only be necessary tosecure the cover plate 15 to the base plate by any suitable means.

It is desirable to provide a strain relief for the conductor cablehaving the connector attached thereto and to this end the cableconnector of the present invention is provided with a self-containedmeans for precluding the imposition of any strains or stresses upon theconnections between the several conductors of the flat cable and theirrespectively associated contacts. Thus, it will be noted that the baseplate 14 is provided along one of its longitudinally extending sideswith a depending flange 34 which is spaced from the corresponding sideof its associated cover plate 15 a distance equal to the thickness ofthe cable disposed therebetween. The end portion of the cable 11 whichis clamped between the connector parts 14 and 15, as see FIG. 2, ispreset, preferably prior to securement of the contact members to itsconductors, to a shape which includes a Z-shaped portion 35 adapted tobe snugly accommodated within the correspondingly shaped cable spaceformed between the flanged plate 14 of the connector and its cover plate15. When the plate 15 is secured in covering relation to the cable, theZ-shaped bend in the latter serves to relieve the contact-to-cableconductor connections of strains and stresses which might be disruptiveof the connections. In some instances, the Z-shaped form of the cablemay be obtained simply by clamping the cable between the connector parts14 and 15, thereby eliminating the step of pre-setting the cable to itsZ-shaped form.

Also, as shown in the drawings the cover plate 15 is preferably providedalong the side thereof which is opposite that which includes the strainrelief flange 34 with a flange 36 which overlaps the corresponding sideof the plate 14 and serves as a protective shield against exposure ofthe cut end of the cable to which the connector is attached.

Mention has been made of the fact that the pointed extremities of eachpair of the contact prongs 19-19 are oppositely bent as shown in FIGS. 6and 9. This is for the purpose of facilitating insertion of theangularly oriented prongs into their respective clinching cavitiesduring the operation of initially connecting the contact members totheir respectively associated conductors or when it is necessary toreassemble the mating members 14 and 15 of the connector after they hadbeen sepa rated for any reason. By so bending the points of the contactprongs they provide in effect slopes which help to guide the prongs intothe open ends of their accommodating cavities.

It will be apparent that various modifications and variations may bemade from time to time without departing from the essential principlesor real spirit of the invention and accordingly it is intended to claimthe same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. An electrical connector for an insulated flat cable having aplurality of insulated round wire conductors disposed in coplanar sideby side relation within an enveloping film of plastic or otherpenetrable insulating material comprising an insulated structure securedto the cable in transversely extending relation to the conductorsthereof and a plurality of electrically conductive metal contact membersrespectively mounted in said structure crosswise of the longitudinallyextending axes of the cable conductors, each of said contact membershaving a terminal part for connection to an electrical circuit orcomponent thereof and a retention part internally nested in saidstructure, said retention part having an end thereof bifurcated toprovide a pair of spaced-apart sharply-pointed prongs for piercing thecable in straddling relation to an insulated conductor thereof, saidprongs having opposed sharply cornered cutting edges for slicing throughthe insulation and electrically engaging the wire of said insulatedconductor, said conductor-straddling prongs of each of said contactmembers being disposed in a common plane so angularly orientedrelatively to the longitudinal axis of the conductor wire engagedthereby that said sharply cornered cutting edges of the prongs engageand bite into the conductor wire at points offset from one anotherlengthwise of the conductor wire for imparting a bend thereto whereby toplace it under tension in the immediate region of its engagement by saidprongs, the end portions of said conductor-straddling prongs of each ofsaid contact members being extended beyond the conductor embracedtherebetween for conjoint clinching of said prongs against saidconductor-wire en gaged thereby, and means in said structure for cammingsaid prongs into their said clinched condition about said conductorwire, said camming means being operative to establish a force whichreacts against the restrained tendency of the conductor to assume itsstraightened condition to thereby hold said prongs tightly engaged withthe conductor wire.

2. A connector as defined in claim 1 wherein said insulated structure isprovided with a plurality of contactreceiving pockets arranged in atleast one row thereof extending transversely across the width of thecable to which said connector is secured, said pockets being disposed inspaced end to end relation substantially in a plane extending normal tothe plane of the cable with said pockets respectively in verticalregistry with the conductors of said cable to which said contacts aresecured, said contacts being individually nested in said pockets andelectrically connected to the conductor wires in registry therewith.

3. A connector as defined in claim 2 wherein each said contact member isprovided with means for frictionally retaining the same nested withineach of said pockets.

4. A connector as defined in claim 2 wherein each of saidcontact-receiving pockets is provided with an upper portion having anopening through which externally projects said terminal part of a singlecontact member and with a lower portion having a closed bottom in whichis received the bifurcated end of said single contact member and whereinthe wire conductors of said cable are clamped in said connector flatwisebe tween the said upper and lower portions of said pockets with thebifurcated ends of the several contact members respectively spanning theseveral conductors of the cable.

5. A connector as defined in claim 1 wherein said insulated structureincludes a multi-slitted base member and a mating multi-recessed covermember adapted to be secured together with the slits of said base memberin vertical alinement respectively with the recesses of said covermember, wherein the opposed end walls of each of said recesses of saidcover plate member are provided with oppositely tapered surfaces whichrespectively cam the prongs of each contact member nested in each ofsaid recesses into clinched engagement with the conductor wire whichextends transversely across each said recess, and wherein a multiroundwire conductor flat cable is clamped between said base and cover memberswith the several conductor wires of said cable each having clinchedthereto one of said contact members nested in said slits and theirrespectively alined recesses.

6. A connector as defined in claim 5 wherein said cover plate member isprovided with a plurality of grooves extending transversely thereof inrespective alinement with the insulated wire conductors of the cable towhich said connector is secured, each of said grooves having associatedtherewith one of said contact-receiving recesses, whereby, when saidcable is clamped between said mating base and cover members with theinsulated wire conductors thereof respectively disposed in said groovesand extending across the recesses respectively associated therewith, theprongs of said contact members clinched to said wire conductors arerespectively nested in said recesses of said plate.

7. A connector as defined in claim 5 wherein the extremities of thebifurcated end of each contact member are respectively turned inwardlyof the cover plate recess in registry with the contact prongs tofacilitate nesting of said prongs in said recess.

8. A connector as defined in claim 5 wherein one of said mating membersof said insulating structure is provided along one side thereof with aflange disposed in spaced parallel relation to the corresponding side ofthe other of said mating members to form an angularly shaped spacebetween proximate surfaces of the mating members in which tocompressively receive a correspondingly shaped section of the cable andthereby provide a strain relief means for the cable clamped in saidstructure.

9. A connector as defined in claim 5 wherein said base and cover platemembers of said insulating structure are complementally shapedlengthwise along one side thereof to protectively enclose a square-cutend of the cable clamped between said members.

10. An electrical contact element in combination with insulated roundwire conductor of a multiconductor flat cable comprising a stamping ofthin sheet metal which includes a bifurcated body portion having a pairof coplanar spaced apart pointed prongs angularly oriented relatively tothe longitudinal axis of said insulated conductor and respectivelyengaging opposite sides of the conductor wire at two points relativelyoffset from one another along said axis, the opposed inner edges of saidprongs having relatively sharp cutting edges which penetrate theconductor insulation and bite into opposite sides of the conductor wirewhereby to place the latter under tension in the region of itsengagement by said prongs.

11. The combination as defined in claim 10 wherein said conductor isdisposed within the kerf of said bifurcated body portion of the contactelement with the end portions of its said prongs extending freely beyondthe periphery of the wire conductor and wherein said freely projectingend portions of said prongs are pinched together to force said prongsinto firm and positive engagement with the conductor wire.

cated body portion of said contact element and wherein the pointedextremities of said prongs are oppositely bent to provide curvedsurfaces for leading said prongs into a receiving recess therefor.

* l l l l

1. An electrical connector for an insulated flat cable having aplurality of insulated round wire conductors disposed in coplanar sideby side relation within an enveloping film of plastic or otherpenetrable insulating material comprising an insulated structure securedto the cable in transversely extending relation to the conductorsthereof and a plurality of electrically conductive metal contact membersrespectively mounted in said structure crosswise of the longitudinallyextending axes of the cable conductors, each of said contact membershaving a terminal part for connection to an electrical circuit orcomponent thereof and a retention part internally nested in saidstructure, said retention part having an end thereof bifurcated toprovide a pair of spaced-apart sharply-pointed prongs for piercing thecable in straddling relation to an insulated conductor thereof, saidprongs having opposed sharply cornered cutting edges for slicing throughthe insulation and electrically engaging the wire of said insulatedconductor, said conductor-straddling prongs of each of said contactmembers being disposed in a common plane so angularly orientedrelatively to the longitudinal axis of the conductor wire engagedthereby that said sharply cornered cutting edges of the prongs engageand bite into the conductor wire at points offset from one anotherlengthwise of the conductor wire for imparting a bend thereto whereby toplace it under tension in the immediate region of its engagement by saidprongs, the end portions of said conductor-straddling prongs Of each ofsaid contact members being extended beyond the conductor embracedtherebetween for conjoint clinching of said prongs against saidconductor-wire engaged thereby, and means in said structure for cammingsaid prongs into their said clinched condition about said conductorwire, said camming means being operative to establish a force whichreacts against the restrained tendency of the conductor to assume itsstraightened condition to thereby hold said prongs tightly engaged withthe conductor wire.
 2. A connector as defined in claim 1 wherein saidinsulated structure is provided with a plurality of contact-receivingpockets arranged in at least one row thereof extending transverselyacross the width of the cable to which said connector is secured, saidpockets being disposed in spaced end to end relation substantially in aplane extending normal to the plane of the cable with said pocketsrespectively in vertical registry with the conductors of said cable towhich said contacts are secured, said contacts being individually nestedin said pockets and electrically connected to the conductor wires inregistry therewith.
 3. A connector as defined in claim 2 wherein eachsaid contact member is provided with means for frictionally retainingthe same nested within each of said pockets.
 4. A connector as definedin claim 2 wherein each of said contact-receiving pockets is providedwith an upper portion having an opening through which externallyprojects said terminal part of a single contact member and with a lowerportion having a closed bottom in which is received the bifurcated endof said single contact member and wherein the wire conductors of saidcable are clamped in said connector flatwise between the said upper andlower portions of said pockets with the bifurcated ends of the severalcontact members respectively spanning the several conductors of thecable.
 5. A connector as defined in claim 1 wherein said insulatedstructure includes a multi-slitted base member and a matingmulti-recessed cover member adapted to be secured together with theslits of said base member in vertical alinement respectively with therecesses of said cover member, wherein the opposed end walls of each ofsaid recesses of said cover plate member are provided with oppositelytapered surfaces which respectively cam the prongs of each contactmember nested in each of said recesses into clinched engagement with theconductor wire which extends transversely across each said recess, andwherein a multi-round wire conductor flat cable is clamped between saidbase and cover members with the several conductor wires of said cableeach having clinched thereto one of said contact members nested in saidslits and their respectively alined recesses.
 6. A connector as definedin claim 5 wherein said cover plate member is provided with a pluralityof grooves extending transversely thereof in respective alinement withthe insulated wire conductors of the cable to which said connector issecured, each of said grooves having associated therewith one of saidcontact-receiving recesses, whereby, when said cable is clamped betweensaid mating base and cover members with the insulated wire conductorsthereof respectively disposed in said grooves and extending across therecesses respectively associated therewith, the prongs of said contactmembers clinched to said wire conductors are respectively nested in saidrecesses of said plate.
 7. A connector as defined in claim 5 wherein theextremities of the bifurcated end of each contact member arerespectively turned inwardly of the cover plate recess in registry withthe contact prongs to facilitate nesting of said prongs in said recess.8. A connector as defined in claim 5 wherein one of said mating membersof said insulating structure is provided along one side thereof with aflange disposed in spaced parallel relation to the corresponding side ofthe other of said mating members to form an angularly shaped spacebetween proximate surfaces of tHe mating members in which tocompressively receive a correspondingly shaped section of the cable andthereby provide a strain relief means for the cable clamped in saidstructure.
 9. A connector as defined in claim 5 wherein said base andcover plate members of said insulating structure are complementallyshaped lengthwise along one side thereof to protectively enclose asquare-cut end of the cable clamped between said members.
 10. Anelectrical contact element in combination with insulated round wireconductor of a multi-conductor flat cable comprising a stamping of thinsheet metal which includes a bifurcated body portion having a pair ofcoplanar spaced apart pointed prongs angularly oriented relatively tothe longitudinal axis of said insulated conductor and respectivelyengaging opposite sides of the conductor wire at two points relativelyoffset from one another along said axis, the opposed inner edges of saidprongs having relatively sharp cutting edges which penetrate theconductor insulation and bite into opposite sides of the conductor wirewhereby to place the latter under tension in the region of itsengagement by said prongs.
 11. The combination as defined in claim 10wherein said conductor is disposed within the kerf of said bifurcatedbody portion of the contact element with the end portions of its saidprongs extending freely beyond the periphery of the wire conductor andwherein said freely projecting end portions of said prongs are pinchedtogether to force said prongs into firm and positive engagement with theconductor wire.
 12. The combination as defined in claim 10 wherein thepoints of said prongs pierce the flat cable and slice through theconductor insulation in conductor spanning relation whereby to effect amechanical secure and positive electrical connection between said prongsand the wire connector nested in the kerf of said bifurcated bodyportion of said contact element and wherein the pointed extremities ofsaid prongs are oppositely bent to provide curved surfaces for leadingsaid prongs into a receiving recess therefor.